•

•
 SPLINT CAST

• Noncircumferential • Circumferential
• Acute management • For severe, non acute
while awating soft tissue injuries
definitive • Definitive
• Allows for acute management of
swelling certain fractures
• Decreased risk of • More effective
complication immobilization
 Maintain bone alignment

Pain relief

Prevent complications such as

fat embolism and shock

To prevent further insult to the

skin, soft tissue, nerves, vessels

To ease transportation of
patient
 Advantages
Faster to apply
Less risk for pressure related
complications
May be removed easily
Regular inspection of injury site
Disadvantages
Excessive motion at injury site
Inappropriate for definitive care
Lack of patient compliance
Wooden Metallic Plaster of
splint splint Paris splint
(POP
slab)
Ulnar gutter Radial gutter
Thumb spica

Buddy tap/splint

Volar splint
 Dorsal splint

Single sugar-tong

Double sugar-tong
Long arm posterior splint
 Posterior ankle splint

Posterior knee splint

Mallet finger Knuckle Dynamic Cockup splint
splint bender splint Cockup splint

Turn buckle
splint
•
• Ambulation is a bipedal locomotion, or walking.

• An ambulation aid is a hand-held device used to

help a person stand and walk.

• Ambulation aids are prescribed to increase

stability or to reduce the load on weight-bearing
structures.
 CRUTCHES

• Crutches are for patients who must transfer

more weight to their arms than with canes.

• When a patient uses Axillary crutches, patients

can transfer as much as 100% of body weight
to the arms during swinging gaits.

• Cushioning pads are often used for the axillary

bars and handgrips.
 COMPONENTS OF CRUTCH
Crutch Tip:
• Crutch tips are made of rubber.
• The crutch tips should be at least
1.5 inches in diameter.
• Crutches without rubber tips or with
inadequate rubber tips are
dangerous.

Handgrips:
• Made of sponge rubber
• Could be built up or contoured to
the needs of the patient
• Function to reduce pressure on the
hands
• Enhances safety
Axillary Pads
• Made of sponge rubber
• Function to prevent unnecessary
pressure under the axillary region

Triceps Band
• Made of metal or stiff leather and are
attached to the upper part of the
crutch.
• Function to assist the patient in
maintaining elbow extension during
weight bearing
• Very helpful for patients with weak
triceps

Wrist Strap
• Made of either leather or plastic
• Functions to assist patients in making
their handgrip
• Very helpful for patients with weak wrist
extensors
 TYPES OF CRUTCHES

Axillary Non Axillary:

 AXILLARY CRUTCHES
• An axillary crutch
provides support from
the axilla to the floor.

• Wood and aluminum

axillary crutches are
available, both of
which are adjustable.

• It has a shoulder
piece and handgrip
or bar.
The primary advantage of an axillary crutch is that it
allow transfer of 80% of the individual's body weight.

• Axillary crutches provide better trunk support than

non-axillary crutches,

• Patient should be advised of the possibility of

sustaining compressive brachial neuropathies with the
use of axillary crutches.

• Patients should avoid resting their body weight on the

axillary area.
 NON-AXILLARY CRUTCHES
Non-axillary crutches
allow transfer of 40-50%
of the patient's body
weight.

• The devices require

good trunk control.

• The patient needs

confidence in his/her
ambulation skills.
 FOREARM CRUTCHES (LOFSTRAND CRUTCHES)

1. Most popular of non-axillary

crutches.
2. Most useful substitute for canes.
3. Most often used bilaterally.
4. Made of tubular aluminum.
5. Padded hand bar.
6. Forearm cuff.

• The open end of the cuff is

placed on the lateral aspect of
the forearm to permit elbow
flexion and grasping.

• The proximal portion of the

orthosis is angled at 20° to
provide a comfortable stable fit.
 ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF FOREARM CRUTCHES

Advantages :
1. Ambulation is safer and easier.
2. Good substitution for the cane as
forearm support stabilizes the wrist
during weight bearing.
3. The patient's hands are free to
perform various tasks while the
body weight is supported through
the forearm by the forearm cuff
pivots.
4. The patient does not have to
worry about dropping the
crutches.
5. These crutches are shorter than
axillary crutches.

Disadvantage of Lofstrand crutches is

that they provide less support for
ambulation than axillary crutches.